Newsletter Issue No. 806

By Lars Hundley Lots of great replies from readers over the week about bike saddles. Thanks! We got so much useful feedback that we’re skipping the bike of the week to cover it in more detail.

Over on Facebook, the most popular post of the week was about whether or not it is appropriate to ride a road bike with mountain biking pedals and shoes. You might be surprised what fellow roadies have to say!

On Pinterest our most popular pin explains what to do if you develop a shimmy during high speed descents.

RBR Readers Speak: Most Comfortable Bike Saddles

I asked readers about which saddles you thought were the most comfortable, and boy did I get answers! I took the replies and turned them into a giant article that’s going to make you wonder if you should try out something new. I’m still adding to the article as answers roll in, so it isn’t too late to tell us if you think we left something out. Lots of different options, but we also got quite a few votes for bike seats that are evidently famous for a reason.

Thoughts On Campagnolo’s 12-Speed Road Groups

By Jim Langley The road technical development that dominated my inbox last week was Campagnolo’s new Super Record and Record 12-Speed groups – the first 12-speed components to hit the road market (available in May or June 2018). Having had a few days to think about it and knock it around with riding buddies, I still have more questions than answers about this development. Read more.

Anti-Aging: Elizabeth Wicks’ Story

By John Hughes I’ve been coaching Elizabeth Wicks since she was “only” 66 years old and helped her to improve with age. In past issues of the RBR newsletter I’ve described her training and progress.

She just turned 74 and rode 74 miles to celebrate her birthday. She is retired and lives in Boylston in central Massachusetts.

She has set age 65-70 and 70-75 records in 12- and 24-hour races. As part of her training for ultra racing, Wicks does intensity workouts once a week. Several times a year since 2013, Wicks has ridden an 8.2-mile baseline time trial on the same course to test her fitness. She’s cut her time from 29:25 on April 7, 2013 to 26:48 on April 20, 2017. Read more.

Don’t miss the new ebook from Coach Hughes:

By Coach John Hughes Chronological aging is inevitable. However, you have control over how well you will age. Coach Hughes wrote this eBook for all roadies age 50 and older. It will teach you how you, too, can fight the physical effects of chronological aging and includes the illustrative stories of 13 roadies. Learn More About the Ebook.

Garneau Course Air Lite II Cycling Shoes Review

By Sheri Rosenbaum At Interbike, Garneau announced the new Course Air Light II road shoe for the 2018 season. I received mine in December and when I slipped them on, they felt great from the first ride. Stylish, comfortable and stiff carbon sole combine to make this one of my favorite shoes. Over the last couple of years, I’ve tested a lot of Garneau clothing but this was my first pair of shoes by the Canadian company. I must say, I’m hooked. Read more.

Cycling and Impotence? New Study Shows Good News

By Gabe Mirkin, MD Cycling is not associated with increased risk for impotence or urinary symptoms. The largest and best study on the subject to date shows that serious cyclists are no more likely to suffer impotence or urinary problems than swimmers or runners (The Journal of Urology, March 2018;199(3):798–804). This refutes earlier and much smaller studies that suggested increased risk for these conditions (Int J Impot Res, 2001;13:298). Other earlier studies suggesting an association were hampered by extremely small numbers of participants and control groups (Korean J Urol, May 2011;52(5):350-4). Read more.

Castelli Nano Flex+ Armwarmers, Legwarmers and Kneewarmers Review

By Lars Hundley Castelli first introduced Nano Flex arm and leg warmers more than 5 years ago, adding a water repellent feature to the warmers that helps keep your arms or legs drier through misting, sprinkling rain, or road spray. New for 2018, Castelli has updated the construction of the warmers by using a different “Nano Light” fabric on the backs of the knees and bends of the elbows so that they move better with your arms and legs. Read more.